Shatel: Nebraska's new sticks of dynamite on offense create intrigue — dare we say hope?

That’s all Ohio quarterback Nick Poulos needed to throw a 16-yard pass to Riley Neer, who caught it at his 41 and led a chase that ended with him tackled at the Nebraska 7.

One play, 68 yards.

Two plays later, Neer caught a pass in the end zone.

Three plays. Ohio 7, Nebraska 0.

And there it went. Eight months of moves, promises, recovery and anticipation. On the mat.

It was only one possession, but more than enough for the skeptics to take the new season hostage. More than enough for the doubt built up at the end of last season to come rushing back.

By halftime, Nebraska led an uneven, unimpressive first half 14-13. There was an exodus of fans heading for their air-conditioned cars, in large part to escape unbearable heat. Perhaps also because they had seen this movie before.

Would they believe there was a new plot twist?

Those who stayed for the second half walked to their cars afterward with the reward of a new narrative for the 2026 season.

Intrigue.

Dare I say, hope?

It came in the form of a 49-21 victory over the Bobcats — only the fifth time the Huskers scored 49 points since 2020. By the end of the game, NU was coasting and tacking on an extra score with its first-team offense.

There was a point in the first half when Nebraska's goal would have been to avoid being Rutgers. Just win. Then the Huskers went out and scored the fourth-most points in a Big Ten opener, behind Minnesota (59), Ohio State (56) and Indiana (52).

(There was a long touchdown in the first half nullified by a penalty that could have made it 56.)

But it wasn’t the number of pinball points that made this season interesting all at once. Remember when I wrote that NU was due some positive surprises?

Three showed up, and just in time.

1. There were the assertive legs of freshman Jamal Rule, who may have seized the starting job in his debut. Rule went for 122 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries (and TD reception).

It was downright historic, as Rule had the first 100-yard rushing game by a freshman in a season opener since 2018 and the first for a running back in a season opener since 2004.

That’s an indictment of a lot of coaches and offensive coordinators in the past 20 years.

I hope “Run The Damn Ball” guy didn’t head for the parking lot at halftime. He missed the show.

Rule looked like a throwback out there, a 215-pound baby bull who could run through defenders and or jet past them.

Emmett Johnson was on hand to see how the Huskers were going to replace him: with two backs (Mekhi Nelson had 64 yards and one touchdown), a quarterback-run game and an offensive coordinator who played a winning hand time and again (42 rushes, 248 yards).

You can quibble that Dana Holgorsen waited too long to run at and over Ohio, but it was right on time in the second half. The fact he pushed those buttons, particularly after last year’s Minnesota loss, was another inspiring moment.

2. Holgorsen has reason to load up on the run: He has a quarterback with legs and mind to use them.

Anthony Colandrea answered the call and the hype. He had a slow start, everything wasn’t perfect. But he didn’t melt in the heat, his first time in Memorial Stadium or the pressure of Ohio refusing to go away.

We started to see what all the fuss was about. Colandrea started running on designed plays. He scored on one. And he began hitting medium passes to receivers and backs for good gains.

Is it just me or does this offense have more receivers running open — and running for yards after a catch?

Unlike last year, defenders can’t sleep on the quarterback running. They have to honor it, which allows more running room for the backs — especially in the secondary.

It’s one game. But the way Colandrea commanded the offense, held things together and executed basic plays was a good sign.

3. Finally, mostly, there was the return of the explosive play. Remember that?

NU had runs of 39, 29 and 24 yards. There were catches for 27, 21, 51, 24, 15, 17 and the 57-yard touchdown to Nyziah Hunter in the second quarter that was called back by an illegal block.

Much more than at any time I can recall, Nebraska has big-play potential from several angles and players.

A couple of times, Rule and Nelson broke around the end, made a poor guy miss and were off to the races. It was a glorious sight. And it was reminiscent of days of yore, when Nebraska had an offense that looked more than just competent.

It could beat you on any given play.

Nebraska had that in the second half, and it all started with a new, improved offensive line. Do not hold your applause, please.

A stout running game, one that can gain steam over four quarters, is where winning offense begins.

Now throw in a quarterback who can hurt you with his legs and with several options who can turn a small play into a big one, and you have a nightmare for any Big Ten defensive coordinator.

The explosive play is the stick of dynamite that NU has been lacking. It’s a major source of confidence and swag. It can get a team waiting for something to go wrong to start waiting for things to go right.

All of these are going to be necessary because of what we saw from NU’s defense and special teams in Game 1. The Blackshirts had struggles — from a lack of push up front and Ohio finding too many holes to expose. This defense won’t be great. But it has to be better.

Challenges far greater than Ohio lie ahead.

But now, Nebraska might have some challenges to offer the other guys, too.